Novel finite element-based plate design for bridging mandibular defects:Reducing mechanical failure

Introduction: When the application of a free vascularised flap is not possible, a segmental mandibular defect is often reconstructed using a conventional reconstruction plate. Mechanical failure of such reconstructions is mostly caused by plate fracture and screw pull-out. This study aims to develop a reliable, mechanically superior, yet slender patient-specific reconstruction plate that reduces failure due to these causes. Patients and Methods: Eight patients were included in the study. Indications were as follows: fractured reconstruction plate (2), loosened screws (1) and primary reconstruction of a mandibular continuity defect (5). Failed conventional reconstructions were studied using finite element analysis (FEA). A 3D virtual surgical plan (3D-VSP) with a novel patient-specific (PS) titanium plate was developed for each patient. Postoperative CBCT scanning was performed to validate reconstruction accuracy. Results: All PS plates were placed accurately according to the 3D-VSP. Mean 3D screw entry point deviation was 1.54 mm (SD: 0.85, R: 0.10–3.19), and mean screw angular deviation was 5.76° (SD: 3.27, R: 1.26–16.62). FEA indicated decreased stress and screw pull-out inducing forces. No mechanical failures appeared (mean follow-up: 16 months, R: 7–29). Conclusion: Reconstructing mandibular continuity defects with bookshelf-reconstruction plates with FEA underpinning the design seems to reduce the risk of screw pull-out and plate fractures

Affective theory of mind inferences contextually influence the recognition of emotional facial expressions

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Cognition and Emotion on 14-3-18, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2018.1450224The recognition of emotional facial expressions is often subject to contextual influence, particularly when the face and the context convey similar emotions. We investigated whether spontaneous, incidental affective theory of mind inferences made while reading vignettes describing social situations would produce context effects on the identification of same-valenced emotions (Experiment 1) as well as differently-valenced emotions (Experiment 2) conveyed by subsequently presented faces. Crucially, we found an effect of context on reaction times in both experiments while, in line with previous work, we found evidence for a context effect on accuracy only in Experiment 1. This demonstrates that affective theory of mind inferences made at the pragmatic level of a text can automatically, contextually influence the perceptual processing of emotional facial expressions in a separate task even when those emotions are of a distinctive valence. Thus, our novel findings suggest that language acts as a contextual influence to the recognition of emotional facial expressions for both same and different valences

Do emotional difficulties and peer problems hew together from childhood to adolescence? The case of children with a history of developmental language disorder (DLD)

Children and adolescents with developmental language disorder (DLD) are, overall, vulnerable to difficulties in emotional adjustment and in peer relations. However, previous research has shown that different subgroups follow different trajectories in respect of quality of peer relations. Less is known of the trajectories of emotional development. We consider here the possibility that development in these two domains is interrelated: that is, the trajectories of emotional and peer problems will proceed in parallel. We conducted longitudinal joint trajectories analyses of emotional and peer relations in a sample of young people identified as having DLD at age 7 years and seen at intervals up to 16 years. Potential influences on joint trajectory group membership were examined. Findings revealed five distinct joint trajectories. Emotional and peer difficulties do hew together from childhood to adolescence for just over half of the sample, but not all. The variables most clearly associated with group membership were pragmatic language ability, prosociality and parental mental health. This is the first study to examine joint longitudinal trajectories of emotional and peer difficulties in individuals with DLD. We demonstrate that development in individuals with DLD is heterogeneous and identify three key variables associated with personal and social adjustment from childhood to adolescence. Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed

Cisplatin-DNA adduct formation in patients treated with cisplatin-based chemoradiation: lack of correlation between normal tissues and primary tumor

Contains fulltext : 69595.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)PURPOSE: In this study, the formation of cisplatin-DNA adducts after concurrent cisplatin-radiation and the relationship between adduct-formation in primary tumor tissue and normal tissue were investigated. METHODS: Three intravenous cisplatin-regimens, given concurrently with radiation, were studied: daily low-dose (6 mg/m(2)) cisplatin, weekly 40 mg/m(2), three-weekly 100 mg/m(2). A (32)P-postlabeling technique was used to quantify adducts in normal tissue [white blood cells (WBC) and buccal cells] and tumor. RESULTS: Normal tissue samples for adduct determination were obtained from 63 patients and tumor biopsies from 23 of these patients. Linear relationships and high correlations were observed between the levels of two guanosine- and adenosine-guanosine-adducts in normal and tumor tissue. Adduct levels in tumors were two to five times higher than those in WBC (P<0.001). No significant correlations were found between adduct levels in normal tissues and primary tumor biopsies, nor between WBC and buccal cells. CONCLUSIONS: In concurrent chemoradiotherapy schedules, cisplatin adduct levels in tumors were significantly higher than in normal tissues (WBC). No evidence of a correlation was found between adduct levels in normal tissues and primary tumor biopsies. This lack of correlation may, to some extent, explain the inconsistencies in the literature regarding whether or not cisplatin-DNA adducts can be used as a predictive test in anticancer platinum therapy

The uronic acid content of coccolith-associated polysaccharides provides insight into coccolithogenesis and past climate

Unicellular phytoplanktonic algae (coccolithophores) are among the most prolific producers of calcium carbonate on the planet, with a production of ∼1026 coccoliths per year. During their lith formation, coccolithophores mainly employ coccolith-associated polysaccharides (CAPs) for the regulation of crystal nucleation and growth. These macromolecules interact with the intracellular calcifying compartment (coccolith vesicle) through the charged carboxyl groups of their uronic acid residues. Here we report the isolation of CAPs from modern day coccolithophores and their prehistoric predecessors and we demonstrate that their uronic acid content (UAC) offers a species-specific signature. We also show that there is a correlation between the UAC of CAPs and the internal saturation state of the coccolith vesicle that, for most geologically abundant species, is inextricably linked to carbon availability. These findings suggest that the UAC of CAPs reports on the adaptation of coccolithogenesis to environmental changes and can be used for the estimation of past CO2 concentrations